Beards are often celebrated on Tumblr, but usually for their basic aesthetic value rather than, say, their ability to hold a whole bunch of household objects.

That could soon change, though, thanks to a new project called Will It Beard. Pierce Thiot, an advertising agency art director, joined with his photographer wife Stacy to begin this photography series that documents Thiot’s noble attempts to stick just about anything into his very thick beard.

This all began when Thiot’s mom recently had her grandkids put on a talent show. “I tried to put as many pencils as possible in it for my ‘talent,'” Thiot told BuzzFeed. “I got over 20. Needless to say, my mother was very proud.”

Soon, Thiot and his wife decided to see what else they could work with. Here are some of our favorites: